A Sutton family are getting a helping hand to travel in safety thanks to a partnership between Newlife Foundation for Disabled Children and the Midlands Co-operative Society.

Six-year-old Harvey Levy, from Sutton, has Epilepsy, Global Developmental Delay and learning difficulties, which means he needs supervision at all times.

His mum, Nyssa Levy, said car journeys had become a nightmare for the family because standard car seats can’t keep Harvey and other passengers safe.

“Harvey is very strong and he pulls regular car seats out of place and can work his way free from the harness,” She said.

“With his brother and sister on the back seat of the car with him, this causes no end of problems.

“I try to avoid going out in the car with Harvey and we certainly don’t travel long distances, it is just a nightmare.”

With the help of Midlands Co-operative’s staff and children’s disability charity, Newlife Foundation, the family will now be provided with a specialist car seat which costs £682.

Nyssa added: “We have been able to trial this model of car seat and the special five-point harness kept him secure.

“I can’t wait to get our own so we can take the whole family out and about more.”

Newlife Foundation has been the Midlands Co-operative’s staff-elected charity since May 2012.

More than £300,000 has so far been raised specifically to provide specialist equipment for disabled and terminally ill children in the Society’s trading area.

So far, the charity has helped more than 150 children with items ranging from powered and manual wheelchairs to specialist beds and communication aids.

Melloney Sinnott, manager of Midlands Co-operative Fuel Station on Huthwaite Road, Sutton, said: “As a regional retailer we always ensure that our staff-elected charity supports people in need in our trading area. We are delighted to have been able to help Harvey and his family in this way.

“We have just opened another new food store in Kirkby-in-Ashfield which should ensure that we can support even more children in the Nottinghamshire area.”